ASPECTS OF SPLANCHNOMEGALY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACTION OF PROLACTIN

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Abstract
Body growth, with rapid and excessive increase of liver weight, is obtained in completely hypophysectomized pigeons by the administration of relatively highly purified preparations of prolactin. At 3 weeks after hatching the rapidly growing young pigeon shows crop-gland stimulation from prolactin produced in its own pituitary. At this stage it shows, in addition to an amazing rate of body growth, relative overgrowth in liver, intestines, and probably in the pancreas. When these birds are somewhat older, and in growth stasis, the administration of prolactin is followed by new additions to body weight and by overgrowth of liver and intestines. Administration of an isosoluble pituitary preparation, known to be rich in F.S.H. and thyrotropic hormones, and probably containing all ant. lobe hormones except prolactin, produces none of these effects. Though these aspects of splanchnomegaly have not been induced in the rat by the same preparations of prolactin which regularly produce them in the dove and pigeon positive results are regularly obtained in the latter species. The allocation to prolactin of these aspects of growth and overgrowth in these species provides a basis for further doubt as to the separateness or singleness of a "growth" hormone in the pituitary.

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